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What was supposed to be a happy birthday celebration among eight young women, ended in the tragic fatal loss of 4 of the women, in a horrific limo accident in Long Island over this last weekend.

Eight young women in their mid-twenties, rented a limo, to celebrating, a happy occasion , that ended in death.

Families, friends, and people across the country are mourning the Loss of 4 Young Lives. The victims, Brittney Schulman, 23, and Lauren Baruch, 24, both of Smithtown, Amy Grabina, 23, of Commack and Stephanie Belli, 23, of Kings Park died in the crash near Vineyard Route 48 in Cutchogue, according to authorities.

Driver pleads not guilty after hen party limo crash which killed four bridesmaids.

The injured surviving women in the limo were Olga Lipets of Brooklyn, Joelle Dimonte, 25, of Elwood, Melissa Crai, 23, of Scarsdale and Alicia Arundel, 24, of Setauket, officials said.

Their driver of the limo , 58-year-old Carlos Pino of Bethpage, employed by Ultimate Class Limousine, was allegedly making an illegal U turn at the time of the crash, was hospitalized as well.

Meanwhile, the accused drunken driver whose truck struck the limo was ordered held on $500,000 bail.

Steve Romeo, 55, the accused drunk driver was charged with a misdemeanor driving while intoxicated in the T-bone collision late Saturday afternoon.

Reports indicate that Romeo tried to flee the crash scene on foot by jumping an embankment, while being pursued by police and ultimately captured.

Remeo was arraigned in his hospital bed at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport.

The women in the limo had hired the limo so they could the could all drink responsibly while visiting Long Island Vineyards in North Fork.

The limo was struck broadside, and nearly split in half, when a Steve Romeo’s red pick-up truck struck the limo on Route 48 on Saturday around 5:15.

New York car accident attorney, Paul Ajlouny weighs in on this devastating limo accident. “These young women did something that many people around the country do, they went wine tasting. They hired a limo so as not to drive themselves while drinking, they did the right thing.” States Mr. Ajlouny.

“Sadly, we all can’t stop living our lives. No one is safe when there’s a drunk driver on the road. Romeo’s reckless, dangerous act of driving under the influence, took the precious lives of these beautiful young women. When will it stop! Our prayers go out to the victims, their families and friends left behind to grieve this heart-wrenching loss. To experience the loss of a loved one so young is a nightmare no parent should have to endure.” says Mr. Ajlouny.

Drunk Driving Statistics In New York

Drunk driving fatalities (.08 BAC or higher): 364 representing 30.4% of all total traffic deaths, a 7.1% increase from last year.

The driver of the truck that t-boned a limousine, killing four young women celebrating a birthday, was arraigned from his hospital bed on a charge of driving while intoxicated, according to authorities. Steven Romeo, 58, of Bethpage, was arraigned at Eastern Long Island Hospital and ordered held on $1 million bond, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Paul Ajlouny, New York personal injury lawyer, weighs in on this tragic fatal crash. “this was no accident, this was a total disregard for human life. The fact that a vehicle was rear ended and the driver of the SUV continued on to hit the cyclist — criminal. It will not be surprising to learn that this driver was in some way impaired. As the picture shows below, snapped by a witness at the scene, this was no accident, this is a crime scxene.” Says, Mr. Ajlouny.

“From the eyewitness events that took place, once the driver of the SUV hit the car on Dean street, he panicked and tried to make a run for it, running the red light and then hitting the cyclist. The sick thing is there was not one rational thought in this crazed SUV drivers mind. He continued on with the cyclist on the hood of his vehicle, hit another vehicle and then crashed into the intersection on Atlantic and fourth.” Comments, Mr. Ajlouny

A mothers worst nightmare to lose her 2 children and husband in a fiery car accident on Long Island. 35-year-old Lucnie Bouaz-Ostane is understandably devastated by the tragic loss of her family in such a horrific accident.

The Father and two children from Queens was trapped in their Toyota as it burst into flames along Exit 41 on the Southern State Parkway in Bay Shore early Sunday morning.

Reports indicate that the family was rear ended by a BMW. According to the wife, the husband, 37-year-old Ancio Ostane pulled over, and she was able to get out, but no one else did.
Seconds later, the car burst into flames with her family trapped inside.

As the horrifying events took place, authorities report that the the driver of the BMW, 24-year-old Oniel Sharpe tried to flee the scene, but was eventually arrested and charged with drunk driving, and trying to leave the scene of an accident.

The husband and father killed in this accident was a math professor. Their children, 8-year-old Andy and Baby Sephora was only four. Lucnie, wife and mother, had to horrifically witness had to heart wretchedly witness the death of her children and husband.

Prayers and Strength To Lucnie Bouaz-Ostane and surviving family members.

THE MACY’S 4TH OF JULY ANNUAL FIREWORKS CELEBRATION means likely congestion and interruption the normal flow of traffic in the area in Manhattan.

Manhattan Locations:

FDR Drive between Brooklyn Battery Underpass and East 63rd Street

South Street between Whitehall Street and Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place

FDR Driver Service Roads between Cherry Street and 63rd Street

Water Street between Whitehall Street and Fulton Street

Pearl Street between Fulton Street and Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place

Whitehall Street between Water Street and South Street

Broad Street between Water Street and South Street

Old Slip between Water Street and South Street

Robert F. Wagner Sr. Place between Pearl Street and South Street

Cherry Street between Jackson Street and FDR Drive

Delancey Street between Lewis Street and FDR Drive

East Houston Street between Baruch Place and FDR Drive

East 6th Street between Avenue D and FDR Drive

East 10th Street between Avenue D and FDR Drive

Avenue C between East 16th Street and East 20th Street

East 20th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue C

East 23rd Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue C

East 26th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue C

East 30th Street between 1st Avenue and Avenue C

East 33rd Street between 1st Avenue and 3rd Avenue

East 34th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

East 37th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

East 38th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

East 41st Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

East 42nd Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

East 48th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

East 49th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

East 53rd Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive

Brooklyn Locations:

Area bounded by Atlantic Avenue on the South; Old Fulton Street on the North;

Hicks Street on the East; East River on the West (All Inclusive)

Old Fulton Street between Hicks Street and Prospect Street

Cadman Plaza West between Prospect Street and Tillary Street

Front Street between Old Fulton Street and Jay Street

Water Street between Old Fulton Street and Jay Street

Queens Locations:

Area bounded by 44th Drive on the North; Borden Avenue on the South;

Vernon Boulevard on the East; East River on the West (All Inclusive)

Center Boulevard between Borden Avenue and 54th Avenue

2nd Street between Borden Avenue and Newtown Creek / Dead End

Vernon Boulevard between 54th Avenue and Newtown Creek / Dead End

54th Avenue between Center Boulevard and Vernon Boulevard

For the full list of streets activities go to: The Latest NYC Weekend Traffic Advisory
Additional street closures, as well as changes in timing or duration, can occur if deemed necessary by the Police Department.

EMS reports two pedestrians were struck during a multicar crash Wednesday morning in East New York.

The crash occurred near the intersection of Cozine and Pennsylvania avenues just before 10:30 a.m. Witnesses say a woman in a gray Toyota Corolla was making a left turn on Pennsylvania Avenue when she tried to avoid a pedestrian crossing the street.

One of the pedestrians remains in critical condition at Brookdale Hospital after being struck by an out-of-control car in Brooklyn this Wednesday morning. Reports are indicating she suffered serious head injury and may not survive.

Witness reports indicate that a 29-year-old woman driving a Toyota sedan southbound on Pennsylvania Avenue made a left turn onto Cosine, lost control of the car, and drove onto the sidewalk and struck the victims.
She first slammed into a livery cab as well as into a 59-year old man.

The other pedestrian, male, sustained lacerations to the face and is reported in stable condition.

Washington Heights

Running lights can be deadly as seen in this mornings. A driver running lights while southbound on Amsterdam Avenue crashed in Washington Heights, killing a passenger.

The driver collided with a car westbound on West 157th Street just before 5 a.m.

The passenger in the southbound car was killed. The driver is hospitalized.

The crash is till under under investigation.

Woman, 41, killed in multi-vehicle crash in Washington Heights

Running Red Lights

New Yorkers will always try to beat the light, “cutting it close”. Poor judgment and speed can be deadly. “Running red lights”, according to car accident lawyer, Paul Ajlouny, are a blatant disregard for the law and for other drivers. Running a red light is dangerous. The likely-hood of a crash is inevitable. Most collisions in New York that are caused by red light running ending up in T-bone collisions. ” Says, Paul Ajlouny.

1 man killed and six others were injured in a four car accident in the Bronx early Sunday morning, according to NYPD.

Reports indicates a 54-year-old man, William Hay, was speeding near West 228th Street and Marble Hill Avenue, when he tried to drive between a car stopped at a red light and another parked vehicle around 4:30 a.m. Sunday.

Mr. Hay hit both cars, causing a collision with another car.

Hay was pronounced dead at the scene. Six others were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

Tuesday night in Inwood, a borough of Manhattan, One pedestrian was killed and another was critically injured when they were struck while crossing the street.

The accident happened at 209th Street and Ninth Avenue around 10:30 p.m.

A Ford Explorer was westbound on West 207th Street when the two pedestrians tried to run across the street mid-block. The Explorer braked, but could not stop, and hit both pedestrians. Both pedestrians were thrown into the eastbound lanes of West 207th Street, where they were struck by a 2004 Toyota sedan.

A 24-year-old man was run over by the driver side tires, and a 35-year-old man was struck by the driver side fender.

Both men suffered head and body injuries. They were transported my ambulance to St. Barnabas Hospital. The 24-year-old was pronounced dead. The 35-year-old remains in critical condition.

The accident remains under investigation continues.

207th Street between Ninth Avenue and 10th Avenue was closed to traffic due to the active police investigation.

According to New York car accident lawyer Paul Ajlouny, “In NYC we have a culture of jaywalker all the time.”, says Mr. Ajlouny. Speed and Jaywalking just are a lethal combination.

In 2014, the first year in which Mayor Bill de Blasio implemented Vision Zero, a plan to reduce pedestrian deaths to zero, 138 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. That was down from a five-­year high of 182 deaths in 2013. Read More: How Do We Protect New York City’s Pedestrians?